Brazen is a novella published in a limited-print run by Subterranean Press, and reprinted in Otherworld Chills. It is narrated by Nick Sorrentino and Vanessa Callas and follows the events of Thirteen concerning Malcolm Danvers. The hardcover edition features four full-color illustrations by Xavière Daumarie. The eBook edition does not contain these.
Synopsis[]
Nick Sorrentino knows everyone in the supernatural world considers him the Pack’s playboy, the pretty but not very useful werewolf whose only reputation involves his amorous exploits.
Usually, Nick couldn’t care less what anyone outside the Pack thinks of him. But when it affects his hunt for Malcolm Danvers, a psychotic bogeyman from the Pack’s past, it matters.
Necessity forces Nick to team up with mercenary half-demon Vanessa Callas to run Malcolm to ground in Detroit. Together, they discover Malcolm is more deadly than ever. And he wants to play.
It’s time for Nick to prove he’s not just a lover.
He’s a fighter.
Plot[]
Nick wakes up with two happy women in his bed. Rather than enjoy more time together, he goes the responsible route and heads home so he can get Noah to school on time. He reflects that he is more interested in doing the responsible thing these days, anyway.
Ever since the Pack discovered Malcolm Danvers is alive and at large, Nick has been in charge of the manhunt. He checks in with Rhys Smith, the mercenary who has been helping him track Malcolm down. They arrange a meeting between Nick and Rhys's primary field supervisor. Nicks is surprised - and disappointed with his own assumptions - to learn that "Ness" is actually Vanessa, a very attractive operative. She shares that Malcolm has been spotted in Detroit, and insists that her team make a visual confirmation. Nick tries to dissuade her, knowing how sadistic Malcolm will be to anyone he catches on his trail. Vanessa insists.
Vanessa's field agent, Tina, gets cocky and tries to get close enough to photograph Malcolm. He catches her and she goes out of contact.
Vanessa and Nick head to Detroit to rescue Tina. Although Vanessa attempts to flirt with Nick, he remains a perfect gentleman and focused on the business at hand. They track Tina's last location and find her in a warehouse, seconds from a sadistic and painful death. They encounter werewolf bounty hunters, who are an entirely different threat.
They go to the home of Malcolm's former Nast Cabal partner, an equally sadistic assassin who turned double-agent once Malcolm escaped - Stokes helps Malcolm out, but also keeps the Nasts informed of Malcolm's movements. Malcolm has been there and gone: He has cut out Stokes' tongue to negate his sorcerer powers, and he killed Stokes' wife and staged her body horrifically in the attic.
The duo get what information they can from Stokes, then flee before emergency services can arrive and ask questions. During their getaway, they are tailed by the bounty hunters. They escape the tail and hunker down in a motel for the night. They relax with a few drinks, and Vanessa takes the pull-out couch.
Nick is woken by a call from Reese, who has arrived in Detroit and wants to help. Nick panics and orders him to stay put, then races with Vanessa to the diner where Reese is camped out. The werewolf hunters are inside, and Nick leaves Vanessa to go in....and Vanessa encounters Malcolm, who was lurking outside.
Vanessa leads him down a very public street so he can't attack her outright. She tries to contact Nick, but as soon as he noticed her gone, he assumed Malcolm took her and Changed to deal with it. She goes into a convenience store. Malcolm follows and confronts her. She defends herself with a knife until Nick can arrive, and also slips a state-of-the-art tracking chip into one of Malcolm's wounds. Nick nearly takes out Malcolm's jugular, but pauses at the thought that this is supposed to be Clay's kill.
Malcolm escapes. They plan to leave him be as long as they can track him and he stays away from New York. Nick asks Vanessa if he can see her again.
Characters[]
- Nick Sorrentino
- Vanessa "Ness" Callas
- Malcolm Danvers
- Noah Albright - Nick's nineteen-year-old ward. Just started Changing a few months ago.
- Reese Williams - Nick's twenty-two year old ward.
- Antonio Sorrentino
- Rhys Smith - Leader of a supernatural merceary team
- Elena Michaels - current pack Alpha
- Clayton Danvers - Elena's husband and enforcer. Malcolm's hyperfixation within the Pack.
- Jacinda - longtime hookup of Nick's
- Heidi - Jacinda's friend, joins them for a good time
- Frank Russell - a client who hoped to hook up with Heidi
- Tina Mayfair and Jayne - two of Vanessa's agents. Both have hooked up with Nick
- Richard Stokes - a Nast Cabal assassin and contact of Malcolm's. Sorcerer
- Sharon Stokes - Richard's wife, a half-demon with hearing enhancement
Mentioned[]
- Logan Danvers and Kate Danvers - six years old
- Jeremy Danvers - Alpha before Elena, recently stepped down
- Dominic Sorrentino - Alpha before Jeremy.
- Morgan Walsh - Twenty-something werewolf who Nick is mentoring, but does not live with the Sorrentinos
- Joey Stillwell - Noah's father
Continuity[]
- Elena became Alpha nine months ago in From Russia, with Love
- Malcolm killed Jeremy's mother in Infusion
- References to the events of Thirteen, including Malcolm's discovery and escape
- The werewolves rejoined the wider supernatural world after Stolen
- Morgan's story, and his dad being hunted down by mutts, is told in Frostbitten
Trivia[]
- At his father's company, Nick specializes in graphic design and client services
- Morgan is currently staying with the Russian Pack for a few months
- Vanessa is 38 and has been working with Rhys for seven years. She was FBI before that.
- Vanessa is an Arduro half-demon with minor fire powers
- Malcolm's reputation made it all the way to Australia, long after his supposed death
Publication[]
Brazen was first published in a limited-edition print runs by Subterranean Press, along with an ebook edition. The art style resembles that of Forbidden
- A signed leatherbound hardback edition with human Nick on the cover. 1000 copies printed. Includes 6 full color illustrations, including two that are not in the clothbound version.
- A clothbound hardback edition with werewolf Nick on the cover. 5000+ copies printed. Includes 4 full color illustrations.
- Ebook edition with werewolf Nick on the cover. Does not include interior illustrations.
Cover Gallery[]
